For the first time in a few years, both my boys are participating in organized sports this spring. Benjamin decided he wanted to play soccer, while Zackary chose baseball. Both boys have made some new friends, developed lots of new skills and learned about teamwork and the value of cooperation. My energetic oldest son has even done some pitching!

Seeing my boys grow and develop as part of a sports team was worth every penny I paid to register them for their chosen sports. But for some parents, that extra money just isn’t available. That’s why Canadian Tire started the Jumpstart program. The charity helps pay registration fees for kids in need so that they can reap the many benefits of being on an organized sports team. And since June is Jumpstart Month at Canadian Tire, it’s a great time to show your support for this worthy cause!

To kick off Jumpstart Month in style, Canadian Tire is hosting a fantastic Twitter party that you won’t want to miss. Come join the #JumpstartMonth Twitter party on June 7 at 8pm EST and chat with special Olympic guests Hayley Wickenheiser, Meaghan Mikkelson and Benoit Huot about the importance of organized sports and how you can help support Jumpstart in your community.

Best of all, there’s $1000 in prizes to be won for those that take part, so make sure to mark your calendar and get ready for fun. Please note that prizes are available to Canadians only, excluding Quebec, but everyone is welcome to join in the conversation! And if you’re new to Twitter parties, you may want to follow along on Twubs.

One of my favourite things about Canadian Tire Jumpstart is that all the money raised in a community stays in that community. So supporting Jumpstart means that you’re helping local kids get off the sidelines and into the game! Whether a child wants to try a new sport or continue a favourite one, everybody can reap the benefit of organized sports thanks to Jumpstart!

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a really good chicken sandwich. Topped with fresh and tasty fixings and served on a perfect bun, there’s just nothing better than that first bite of tender, juicy chicken when I’m feeling hungry. Since 1992, the wonderful people at Chicken Farmers of Canada have served up tasty chicken sandwiches on July 1 at the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue on Parliament Hill. It’s a big job, but so is creating a sandwich so delicious that Canadians will fall in love at first bite. That’s why Chicken Farmers of Canada is searching for an #MPChickenHero!

That’s right! With Canadians already planning to attend the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue, who better to create the perfect chicken sandwich than one of Canada’s current Members of Parliament? Last year’s winning sandwiches included a Pesto Chicken Philly Melt from the Manitoba MP Hon. Vic Toews, a Chow-Style BBQ Sandwich from Ontario MP Olivia Chow and a Canadian BBQ Chicken Sandwich from Quebec MP Sylvain Chicoine. Personally, as a serious lover of both cheese and basil, the Pesto Chicken Philly Melt is my top choice for a great sandwich. But I can’t wait to see what delicious creations are put together this year too!

And even though superheroes don’t need a reward, the #MPChickenHero is going to get a great one for his or her community! The MP that creates the winning sandwich will win a $10,000 donation for their local food bank. I grew up in pretty severe poverty, so food banks are a cause that’s near and dear to my heart. In fact, when I won a $1000 donation to my favourite charity a few years ago, my own local food bank was my immediate choice. Over one third of the people that depend on Food Banks are children and in my own admittedly biased opinion, no child should ever have to go hungry. Such a generous prize means that the winning MP is ensuring happy, well-fed kids that will have the drive to thrive in their society.

And that’s where we come in! None of our Members of Parliament can be the #MPChickenHero if they don’t know about this great opportunity, so let’s band together and make sure our local heroes enter their best recipes! I’ve been looking through the downloadable recipe book from last year’s contestants and there are some pretty amazing recipes that have been created in the past. But I’m sure this year’s MPs are up to the challenge! Visit the #MPChickenHero contest page to learn how you can contact your MP and let them know about this fun opportunity. In addition to the grand prize, a second and third place sandwich will also win donations to their local food bank. And of course, everyone that attends the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue will get to enjoy the winner’s mouth-watering recipe on July 1. There are really no losers in this contest!

To help kick off the #MPChickenHero contest, Chicken Farmers of Canada is hosting a Twitter party that you won’t want to miss! Come join in the fun on June 7 at 9pm EST for some conversation about what makes the best chicken sandwich, and encourage your MP to join the competition and win an amazing prize for your community! You’re sure to come away feeling inspired to do a little chicken cooking yourself. Check out the full rules here and mark your calendar!

I wouldn’t have thought that there was a way to make me love chicken sandwiches even more than I already do, but Chicken Farmers of Canada has done it! The chance to discover a delicious new way to cook a chicken sandwich while also ensuring that kids across Canada have the food they need to grow and prosper is an opportunity that I can’t pass up. Visit the contest page now and make sure that your MP takes part. A little time in the kitchen could make a world of difference to a hungry child!

When it comes to keeping a car running well, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When I was younger, I had a bad habit of running my vehicles until they were no longer road-worthy and only then getting them fixed. The result? Costly repairs that could have been prevented with some cheap and easy maintenance. That’s why now I put a lot more effort into keeping my car in good running order. Spring is the perfect time to do that, since I’m already heading to the garage to take off my winter tires. And Canadian Tire is always a top choice for one-stop servicing for my beloved car!

Wondering what kind of maintenance your car might need this spring? Topping up fluids is a must, from antifreeze to brake fluid. An oil change is usually a good idea too; planning one every spring and fall will help keep a car running smoothly for years. It’s also a good idea to check spark plugs, especially if you’ve noticed your engine stutter a bit at any point. And having your mechanic check the condition of a car’s brakes, timing belt and air filter can save thousands on future repairs. Brake pads need to be changed periodically; left too long and both pads and disks will need replacing. And breaking a timing belt can ruin the entire engine, so checking it for wear is a must.[Read more…]

Despite living in a small town with limited services and having a lifetime love of cars, I didn’t get my license until fairly late in life. In fact, I was in my early thirties with two kids before I became a licensed driver. I think that at least partly because of that, I have a strong love of driving. After so many years of having somebody else drive me around, being behind the wheel feels like freedom.

But for many, driving is a hassle rather than a pleasure. In fact, my younger sister absolutely hates driving and only does so when she has to. She thinks that the entire concept of hurtling down a highway at high speeds and trusting everyone else on the road to be responsible enough to keep you safe is crazy.

Our two different attitudes are my own first-hand experience of larger global attitudes about driving, vehicles and transportation in general. And recently I had the chance to explore some of those attitudes, and what they might mean in the future, while in Detroit with Ford Canada at the North American International Auto Show.

The event kicked off with a delicious dinner at Ford Field. Having the chance to tour the stadium, see the locker rooms of the players and even attempt kicking a field goal was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’ll never forget. I probably should have worn different shoes, but I still had a blast even though I didn’t score our Canadian crew an extra three points! [Read more…]

Three years ago, I attended the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan on a special blogger trip with Ford Canada. I had the chance to see into the past of the Ford Motor Company while exploring the Henry Ford Museum, and then glance into the future as the Ford’s newest vehicle was unveiled for the first time. Of course, I also spent a bit of time admiring the many other gorgeous vehicles at the auto show too!

It takes a lot for a TV show to impress me. I tend to have a want-it-all attitude when I watch any show; I want to laugh, I want to be touched, I want to connect emotionally with the characters…needless to say, there aren’t many programs that can manage to satisfy my desires! But CBC’s new series This Life has had me hooked since the very first episode, and I know I’m not alone.

The series follows the story of Natalie, a single mother whose terminal cancer diagnosis turns her family’s lives upside down. While her journey and struggle are the focus of the series, the adventures of her siblings, parents and teenage children all provide their own substance and development to the story. It’s impossible to watch an episode and not feel your heart aching for the characters, even as you’re sometimes laughing along too. [Read more…]

There’s a lot to love about Christmas, but one of my favourite things about the season is making a little wish list of items I’m dreaming about finding under the tree. And I can find plenty of items to add to my wish list when I browse the Canadian Tire holiday flyers! Personally, I’d be thrilled to add a pasta maker to my collection of kitchen appliances this year. But I’d also love to add some of the stylish CANVAS Slate serving platters and accessories to the cupboards too!

If you’ve got a Christmas wish list of your own, Canadian Tire wants to help make your dreams come true with the Wish and Win contest! Just share a photo of the Canadian Tire item you’d most like to receive as a gift on Canadian Tire’s Facebook wall or on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #CTWishAndWin. You can even share directly from the digital flyer by clicking the “Wish And Win” button on the product page! Every hour, Canadian Tire will surprise one lucky participant with their wish list item! [Read more…]

November is financial literacy month, and it’s a cause I’m pretty passionate about. All too often, young adults head out into the world with no concept of how to manage their money properly and end up drowning in debt as a result. I know all too well how easily debts can start to add up because I was one of those young adults myself! And now, as a successful and debt-free parent, I’m determined that my boys will start their adult lives with all the money skills and knowledge they need to avoid my mistakes.

That’s why I’m thrilled that TD Canada is as passionate about teaching kids money skills I am. And to celebrate financial literacy month, the company is sponsoring a fabulous Twitter chat that you won’t want to miss! Come join the #FinanciallyFit Twitter chat hosted by @simplystacienet on November 17, 2015 at 9pm EST to get some great information on how you can teach your child more about money. Whether you’re curious about first jobs or allowances, this is one must-attend chat for parents! [Read more…]